Take Home Point:*JESUS IS OUR SAVIOR... Jesus was born for me.

*Repeat this phrase throughout the lesson. The leader will say the first part of the phrase (CAPS). The children respond with the second part of the phrase (italics).

Bible Event: Luke 2: 1-7

We will help children know:

  • The story of Jesus’ birth.
  • Jesus is the real gift of Christmas.
  • Jesus was born to save us from our sins.

We will help the children feel:

  • Happy that Jesus was born to be their Savior.
  • An attitude of worship for baby Jesus.
  • A sense of celebration at the birth of Jesus.

We will help the children do:

  • Interact with puppet presentation to introduce the Bible Event.
  • Participate in the Bible event and hear from an actor playing Joseph.
  • Craft: Make a gift to give away.
  • Snack: Eat a Christmas cake.
  • Game: Go on a treasure hunt for the best Christmas present.
  • Sing and Pray.

Kingdom Quest Year 1 - Lesson 30 - 1

Copyright 2012 Kids Kount Publishing, Omaha, NE 68137,

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture verses are from GOD’S WORD®. Copyright 1995 by God’s Word to the Nations.

Permission to photocopy Kids Church and Kingdom Quest materials granted to purchaser only for local church use.

THIS LESSON’S ROADMAP

DESTINATION / PAGE # / DISCOVERIES ON YOUR JOURNEY / SUPPLIES NEEDED
Large Group Opening
/ 4
5 / Puppet Presentation
Bible Event / Puppet Presentation:
  • Keoni puppet
  • small gift wrapped present
  • Bible
Bible Event:
  • Bible
  • video: The Jesus Story Bible
  • VCR and TV
  • Joseph costume

Small Group Application
/ 7
8
9
10 / Activity 1: Craft
Activity 2: Snack
Activity 3: Game
Prayer Time / Activity 1: Craft
  • one brown lunch bag per child
  • scissors for teacher
  • yellow crinkle paper or thin strips of yellow construction paper crinkled
  • one toilet paper tube per child
  • one tissue per child
  • glue
  • markers
  • one bow per child
  • stickers or glitter glue
  • label that reads: Jesus is our Savior...Jesus was born for me.” Option for label: write on each bag before class.
Activity 2: Snack
  • one Christmas snack cake for each child
  • one straight pretzel per child
  • small container of red frosting
  • napkins, cups, water or juice
Activity 3: Game
  • tape
  • index cards numbered 1-5
  • baby Jesus from craft in box with removable lid, wrapped in plain brown paper

Large Group Wrap-up
/ 11
11 / Singing (Optional) /
  • your choice of music
  • Keoni puppet
  • Example of craft
  • Example of snack

Kingdom Quest Year 1 - Lesson 30 - 1

Pre-Session Singing(10 minutes)

Play Just For Kids Christmas by Don Evans CD or Kids Own Worship Winter 2010 as background music as keiki come into Kingdom Kids

Large Group Opening(15 minutes)

Purpose: The puppet demonstrates today’s lesson. The children are introduced to the take home point and experience the Bible event.

Bible Application with Puppet Presentation:

The presenter invites Keoni out to receive a special present. He shows Keoni the present with his name on it. Keoni is elated and excited. Keoni is especially happy since he’s not going to get any good presents for himself for Christmas. He says that everyone else is getting good presents but he thinks he’ll only get bad ones.

The presenter assures Keoni that he has a wonderful present today. He opens the present and inside is nothing but the fake straw. Keoni is obviously disappointed. The presenter says that this reminds him of baby Jesus being born just for Keoni. Keoni is astounded that Jesus would come into the world just for him.

Keoni asks, “Where is Jesus? Isn’t he supposed to be a baby laying on the straw?” The presenter agrees that is where Jesus was laid when he was born, but he didn’t stay there. Jesus grew and became a man. He was God Son who gave his life for us because he loved us so much. Jesus took away our sins so we could trust him and he could be our friend forever. You can’t see Jesus in the box because right now he’s with you everywhere you go.

Keoni is impressed. That is a gift that is just for him. The kids agree as they repeat the take home point: *JESUS IS OUR SAVIOR – Jesus was born just for me.

Praise Songs:

Joy to the World – Kingdom Kids CD

Happy Birthday Jesus – Just For Kids Don Evans CD# 14

The Best Present of All – “ “ “ “ “ # 10

Glory to God – “ “ “ “ “ # 2

Luke 2:11 - “ “ “ “ “ # 9

Bible Event: Visit from a Costumed Character
Supplies: Bible

Presenter holds the Bible

Presenter: Today in our Bible event, we are going to learn about the day Jesus was born. Mary and Joseph had to walk a long way to the town of Bethlehem. When they got there, they could not find a room where they might sleep. Instead, they found another place where they could rest. Do you know where it was? (If not watching the video, skip rest of paragraph and go right to Presenter.) Listen and find out because that’s where Jesus, Savior of the world, was born.

Presenter: Now we are going to hear from acharacter that is pretending to be Joseph. Everyone needs to put on your imagination hat so you can imagine that it is Joseph, Mary’s husband, talking to you.

Joseph: (Enters.) Greetings, friends! My name is Joseph. I want to tell you about an important journey and an even more important gift.

I was engaged to marry a special woman named Mary. An angel came to visit her and tell her she was going to become the mother of Jesus, the Savior of the world. When he grows up, his job is to take away the sins of the whole (spread arms wide) world. He is God’s Son.

After Mary went to visit her relative, Elizabeth, we had to take a long trip. Walk in place. The king told everyone to go to the town their family came from and pay taxes (mime paying someone money) or money, to the king.

So, we loaded up a few things (pantomime putting things on a donkey) and headed (walk in place) down the road to a town called Bethlehem. I was worried the trip would be hard for Mary. She was going to have baby Jesus soon. Cradle arms and pretend to rock baby. We walked for many day...more than ten days!

When we got to Bethlehem, I knocked (pretend to knock making knocking sounds) and knocked (knock) and knocked (knock) on many doors. “No room!” Shake finger. “No room!” Shake finger. “No room!” (shake finger) we were told.

One kind man told us we could use his stable. A stable is a cave (arch arms over head),where the farm animals live. I was glad for a warm, quiet place to rest. Rest head on hands.

That night something exciting happened. Mary gave birth to the Savior, baby Jesus! Cradle arms. God is Jesus’ heavenly Father, and I am his daddy here on earth. Even more exciting, Jesus is my Savior. Spread arms out like a cross. He came to take away my sins and he is your Savior, too!

Wow! Jesus is the best gift of Christmas because *JESUS IS OUR SAVIOR...Jesus was born for me! Joseph walks off stage.

Boys and girls, let’s practice our bible verse.

Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day a Savior who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11

Let’s fold our hands and pray. Repeat after me.

Dear God,

We love you.

Jesus is our savior.

Jesus was born for me.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

In Jesus’ name.

Amen.

Song:

Let’s sing our song of the week. (To the tune of London Bridge)

Capitalized letters indicate emphasis on that syllable when the rhyme is sung.

JE-sus IS our SA-av-IOR.

SA-av-IOR.SA-av-IOR.

JE-sus IS our SA-av-IOR.

HE was BORN for ME.

Small Group Application (30 minutes)

Purpose:Children will break into small groups. Smaller groups enable children to develop closer relationships with adults and peers in the church. In your small groups you will reinforce the take home point with a fun hands-on activity and discuss the Bible event. Review questions help kids apply the take home point to their daily lives.

Activity 1: Craft “Christmas Gift”

Supplies: one brown paper lunch bag per child; scissors for teacher; yellow crinkle paper or thin strips of yellow construction paper crumpled; one toilet paper tube per child; one tissue per child; glue; markers; one bow per child, option, tape; stickers or glitter glue to decorate outside of bag; label that reads :Jesus is our Savior...Jesus was born for me.” Option for label: write on each bag before class.

Before class, cut about 5” from the tops of the bags, so that 4” remains. The amount that you cut from top of bag will depend on the lunch bag you select.

Boys and girls, the real gift of Christmas is Jesus. Today you will be making Christmas gifts with a baby Jesus inside. Give each child a bag and have them decorate it with supplies provided. When finished decorating, give each child a label to put on bag. Let children put some yellow paper (pretend straw) inside the bag and set bags aside. Give each child a toilet paper tube and one marker. Now draw a face on your baby Jesus. When you are finished with that, we are going to glue a tissue around baby Jesus for a pretend blanket. Make sure you can see his face. When you are finished with that, put baby Jesus in the bag on top of the straw. We will fold over the top of the bag once and put on the bow (or tape).

Christmas is a time of year that we remember other people by giving them gifts. I want you to think of someone special that you would like to give your baby Jesus. It will remind them that Christmas is Jesus' birthday and Jesus is the best gift ever!

Review the Bible Event.

What exciting news did Joseph have? (Baby Jesus was born.)

Let’s practice the take home point. *JESUS IS OUR SAVIOR...Jesus was born for me!

Luke 2:11 “For unto you is born this day a Savior who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11

Song:

Let’s sing our song of the week. (To the tune of London Bridge)

Capitalized letters indicate emphasis on that syllable when the rhyme is sung.

JE-sus IS our SA-av-IOR.

SA-av-IOR.SA-av-IOR.

JE-sus IS our SA-av-IOR.

HE was BORN for ME.

Activity 2: Snack “Christmas Cake”

Supplies: One Christmas snack cake per child Option: homemade cupcakes ; 1 straight pretzel for each child; red frosting; napkins, cups, water or juice.

Before we eat our snack, let’s fold our hands and pray. Repeat after me.

Dear God,

We love you.

Jesus is our savior.

Jesus was born for me.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

In Jesus’ name.

Amen.

Boys and girls, today we are going to celebrate Jesus' birthday by eating a Christmas snack cake. Everyone can take a pretzel and dip the end in the red frosting. Now you can put it in your cake and pretend it is a birthday candle. Before we eat, let's sing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus.

Review the Bible event.

Who's birthday do we celebrate on Christmas? (Jesus)

Let’s practice the take home point. *JESUS IS OUR SAVIOR...Jesus was born for me!

Song:

Let’s sing our song of the week. (To the tune of London Bridge)

Capitalized letters indicate emphasis on that syllable when the rhyme is sung.

JE-sus IS our SA-av-IOR.

SA-av-IOR.SA-av-IOR.

JE-sus IS our SA-av-IOR.

HE was BORN for ME.

Activity 3: Game“Treasure Hunt”

Supplies: tape; index cards numbered 1 through 5; baby Jesus from craft in box with a removable lid wrapped in plain brown paper.

Before class, tape the index cards on the wall and/or floor leading to the baby Jesus (from craft) in the gift box. Make the path easy or difficult, according your class's ability.

Today we are going on a treasure hunt. We will not be looking for gold, or jewels or money. We are trying to find the greatest gift of Christmas. We will follow the cards starting with number one. Then we will follow the trail to the gift, just like Mary and Joseph followed the road to Bethlehem before Jesus was born.

Help the children find and follow the clue cards. Before opening the gift, ask children what they think they will find in the box. Open the box and let children peek inside. Say:

The best gift of Christmas is baby Jesus. We celebrate Christmas with many fancy things, like fancy wrapped presents, fancy cookies and fancy decorations. Was baby Jesus born in a fancy place? No. He was born in a plain ordinary stable to poor parents. Even so, he is the best Christmas gift we will ever receive because JESUS IS OUR SAVIOR...Jesus was born for me!

Review the Bible event.

Why is Jesus the best gift at Christmas? (He is our Savior.)

Let’s practice the take home point. *JESUS IS OUR SAVIOR...Jesus was born for me!

Praise Songs:

Joy to the World – Kingdom Kids CD

Happy Birthday Jesus – Just For Kids Don Evans CD# 14

The Best Present of All – “ “ “ “ “ # 10

Glory to God – “ “ “ “ “ # 2

Luke 2:11 - “ “ “ “ “ # 9

Prayer Time for Trucker and Fanny and Offering.

How can we celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus on Christmas? (Answers will vary but may include: have a birthday party for Jesus; singing songs; going to special church services; decorating for Jesus' birthday, etc.)

Ask children for prayer requests and pray as a group for child’s request.

Let’s practice the take home point. *JESUS IS OUR SAVIOR...Jesus was born for me!

Let’s fold our hands and pray. Repeat after me.

Dear God,

We love you.

Jesus is our savior.

Jesus was born for me.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

In Jesus’ name.

Amen.

Review the Bible Story by reading one of our Christmas storybooks or watching the Jesus Story Bible DVD

Large Group Wrap-Up(10 minutes)

Purpose: The crazy bird puppet, Albie, struggles with learning the take home point. We try to teach him the take home point, but each time he confuses words or concepts. After three attempts, he finally gets it right.

Singing:(Optional, two or three songs, as time allows)

Let’s fold our hands and pray. Repeat after me.

Dear God,

We love you.

Jesus is our savior.

Jesus was born for me.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

In Jesus’ name.

Amen.

Song:

Let’s sing our song of the week. (To the tune of London Bridge)

Capitalized letters indicate emphasis on that syllable when the rhyme is sung.

JE-sus IS our SA-av-IOR.

SA-av-IOR.SA-av-IOR.

JE-sus IS our SA-av-IOR.

HE was BORN for ME.

Goodbye boys and girls. Remember that God loves you and Jesus is our Savior!

Kingdom Quest Year 1 - Lesson 30 - 1